Mark Eirdr 7II/6 — nam ‘learned’
Hróðigr átti brynþings beiðir
bjartan auð ok frœknligt hjarta
minni gnógt ok manvit annat
mest; fylgðu því hvergi lestir.
Alla hafði ǫðlingr snilli;
ungr nam hann á margar tungur;
Eirekr vas, sás mátti meira,
mestr ofrhugi, jǫfri flestum.
Hróðigr beiðir brynþings átti bjartan auð ok frœknligt hjarta, gnógt minni ok mest annat manvit; lestir fylgðu hvergi því. Ǫðlingr hafði alla snilli; ungr nam hann á margar tungur; Eirekr, sás mátti meira flestum jǫfri, vas mestr ofrhugi.
The famed convenor of the byrnie-meeting [BATTLE > WARRIOR] had bright wealth and a brave heart, abundant memory and other common sense to the highest degree; flaws did not accompany that. The ruler had absolute eloquence; when young he learned many languages; Eiríkr, who could do more than most princes, was the most courageous.
notes
[6] ungr nam hann á margar tungur ‘when young he learned many languages’: Lit. ‘he learned in many languages’. According to Knýtl (ÍF 35, 219), Eiríkr did not need an interpreter when he travelled abroad. For the ‘foreign language requirement’ in ON literature, see Kalinke 1983.